Wheat mixer and temperer



(No Hodeli) W. F. OROMWELL 8v J. SOHOONOVER.

' WHEAT MIXER AND TBM'PEBER.

//v VE/VTOR s:

ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM FREDRICK CROMXVELL AND JAMES SCHOONOVER, OF MORGAN- FIELD, KENTUCKY.

WHEAT MIXER AND TEMPERER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,143, dated August 18, 1896.

Application filed November 26, 1895. Serial No. 570,214. (No model.)

Be it known that we, WVILLIAM FREDRICK- CROMWELL and JAMES SCHOONOVER, of Morganfield, in the county of Union and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and Improved Vheat Mixer and Temperer, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

' Our invention relates to a process for mixing and tempering grain, and also to the construction of a machine for the proper carrying out of the said process.

The object sought to be attained by the process is to provide for the thorough mixing of the grain with pure water or water of condensation, and next slightly moistening the same with live steam, the steam being supplied beneath the dampened mass of grain in the mixing-chamber, the bottom portion of the mixing-chamber being of a wire-gauze or a reticulated material, the steam being supplied to the grain throughout the full extent of the mixing-chamber, and finally in submitting the grain to the action of heat in order to dry the same to a predetermined extent.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a machine of simple, durable, and eco nomic construction, especially adapted for mixing and tempering grain, which also will be provided with a mixing-chamber having a sieve-like bottom and provided with a cutflight propeller carrying series of mixingpaddles; and, furthermore, to provide for a steam-coil beneath the sieve-like bottom of the mixing-chamber, and also to provide for a jet of live steam supplied from the coil and a means for supplying the water of condensation to a tank located over the mixing-chamber, and also to provide a second conveyer in the bottom portion of the machine to carry off all foreign substances that may escape through the meshes of the screen.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the machine. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the machine, taken substantially-on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a section through the casing of the machine, taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, showing a portion of the coil in plan view and the pipe supplying the water of condensation in horizontal section.

In carrying out the invention the machine is provided with a box-body A, and the said body is provided, preferably, with a curved bottom 10, its upper face being concaved, and the box-body is divided into an upper compartment or mixing-chamber B and a lower compartment or discharge-chamber C by means of a partition 11, extending from side to side of the body and from end to end thereof, the upper face of the partition being concaved and its under face convexed. The said partition preferably consists of a wire screen of predetermined mesh.

A cut-flight conveyer D is located within the mixing-chamber B, the shaft 12 thereof being journaled in suitable bearings in the ends of the box-body. This cut-flight conveyer consists of the shaft 12 and a flange 13, spirally secured upon the said shaft and extending from end to end, the said flange being cut, broken, or interrupted at various points in its length to provide series of wings 14, which extend in opposite directions, forming what is known as a cut-flight, and in addition to the interrupted flange 13 the shaft is provided with mixing-paddles 15, which are placed at various points in the spaces occurring between the stretches of the flanges. Under this construction of the conveyernamely, by combining mixing-paddles with a cut-flight conveyera maximum of agitating or mixing capacity is obtained and material may be much more conveniently mixed than when eithera simple paddle conveyor or a simple cut-flight conveyor is employed.

A tank 16 is supported over what may be termed the head end of the mixing chamher, and at the opposite end of the said chamber an opening 17 is made, which may be connected with a chute, the said chute being adapted to convey the grain directly from the mixing-chamber to the rollers.

A chute 18enters the mixing-chamber near its head in front of the tank 16, the chute 18 being adapted to supply the grain to the mix ing-chamber, and immediately over the outlet end of this chute, or substantially so, a faucet 19 is located, being connected with the tank 16, whereby liquid from the tank may be mingled with the grain as it enters the mixing-chamber. The tank 16 is adapted to receive a proper supply of water of condensation, being provided with an overflow-pipe 20 and a supply-pipe 21, having a suitable valve 22.

The supply-pipe 21 for the tank is connected with the return end of a coil of pipe 23, and this coil is supported by suitable hangers 24 below the sieve-like bottom of the mixing-chamber, as shown in Fig. 1, and extends practically the entire length and width of the box-body A of the machine. The coil receives steam through a pipe 25, connected with a boiler or other source of steam supply, and one or more nozzles 26 are connected with the supply-pipe for the coil, through the medium of a stand-pipe 27, the said stand-pipe being provided with a valve 28, to control the live steam to be admitted to the nozzle or nozzles 26, and a valve 29 may be placed in the supply-pipe 25 at any point in its length.

The outlet-pipe 30 of the coil is provided also with a valve 31, which, however, is never opened when the valve controllin g the sup plypipe 21 of the tank is open, or when the water of condensation is to be supplied to the tank 16.

A conveyer E of any approved type is located in the bottom or discharge chamber 0 of the machine, being adapted to convey the material which is passed through the sievebottom of the mixing-chamber to an outlet- 32 in the bottom of the said discharge-chamber. Preferably the conveyer in the upper or mixing chamber conducts the material to the foot of the box-b0dy, where the opening 17 is located, while the lower conveyer conducts its material in direction of the head of the machine.

Usually each conveyer-shaft extends clownward beyond the foot of the machine, each shaft being provided with a sprocket-wheel 34, connected bya sprocket-chain belt 35, and a second sprocket-wheel 36 is located on the shaft of the upper propeller, being connected by a sprocket-chain belt 37 with any suitable motor.

In the operation of the machine the grain is wet with the water of condensation as it enters the mixing-chamber, and while in the chamber the grain is subjected to the action of live steam supplied by the nozzles 26, while the heat from the coil 23 serves to dry the grain to a certain extent before leaving the mixing-chamber.

By means of a machine constructed as above set forth, and especially through the medium of the method above described, each and every grain of wheat may be tempered to the from.

same extent, and at the same time the bran on the wheat may be toughened without inj uring the germ, the flouring qualities, or the granulations of the grains of wheat. By introducing the steam below the wire cloth forming the bottom of the mixing-chamber, the said steam will ascend, and the wheat will receive the full beneficial effects therewheat the full length of the conveyer, gradually moistens and toughens the bran on the wheat, and at the same time the steam loses its scalding effects, which are of great injury and a detriment to the flour qualities in the grain, the intense heat of the steam destroying the rising qualities of the flour.

The heat emanating from the coil of pipes below the mixing-chamber tends to relieve the grains of wheat from excess of moisture; and during all the different operations just described the cut-flight conveyer with the mixing-paddles is thoroughly and evenly mixing and tempering each and every grain.

A decided advantage is obtained by the use of the wire-cloth for the bottom of the mixin g-chamber over perforated metal linings or partitions heretofore used, since the cloth has considerably more cleaning-surface and openings for foreign substances to fall through than it would be possible to obtain in a perforated surface. The wire-cloth can be made of different meshes and of different sizes of wire.

It is claimed that the combined action of the water of condensation, live steam, and dry heat in the process of mixing and temperin g grain is a decided improvement over the ordinary methods, as it enables the rolls to grind the widest possible bran, and enables one to make a better clean up in the mill.

In the event the operator should turn on too great a quantity of the water of condensation the surplus will simply drop through the bottom of the mixing-chamber and will not interfere with the grinding. A mixer and temperer constructed as above set forth will not choke up. The water is used in its purest possible state, and the wheat is not fully dried before it is ground, being carried directly to the rolls from the machine in a tough and damp condition to be ground at once.

The machine may be made of any desired capacity, and the conveyers may be made to run right hand or left hand, or the top one may be run right-handed and the bottom left handed, or vice versa, as conditions may require.

Having thus fully described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The herein-described process of mixing and tempering grain which consists in mixing the grain with water, subjecting it to the action of steam while being mixed and subject ing it to the action of dry heat during the mixing operation.

The live steam, passing through the' 2. The herein-described process of mixing and tempering grain, which consists in mixing the grain with water of condensation, and throughout the mixing operation subjecting the grain to live steam fed thereto at a point below the mixture, and during the progress of the aforesaid steps, applying substantially dry heat to the moistened mass of grain, also from a point below the same, as and for the purpose specified.

3. The herein-described process'of mixing and tempering grain, which consists in mixing the grainwith water of condensation, providing for the discharge of the surplus water, and during the mixing operation subjecting the grain to the action of live steam supplied to the grain at a point below the mixture, and finally during the progress of the aforesaid steps applying heat to the moistened mass of grain in such proportions as to but partially dry the grain, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a machine for mixing and tempering wheat, a box-body provided with a sieve-like partition dividing it into two compartments, an upper mixing-compartment and a lower discharging-compartment, a cut-flight conveyer journaled in the mixing-compartment and provided with paddles at intervals between the cut-flight sections thereof, a conveyerjournaled in the lower or discharge compartment, a coil connected with a source of steam supply, located beneath the said sievelike partition, a nozzle having valved connection with the coil and adapted to supply live steam beneath the said sieve-like partition, the nozzle being located between the upper face of the coil and said partition, means, substantially as described, for supplying grain to the mixing-compartment, and a tank adapted to contain water, having its outlet located adjacent to a point where the grain enters the said mixing-compartment, as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a machine for mixing and tempering grain, a box-body the bottom of which is provided with an outlet, the said body being fur-' ther provided with a partition of wire-cloth dividing it into an upper mixing-compartment and a lower discharge-compartment, the lower discharge-compartment being provided with a conveyer and the upper mixingcompartment with a cut-flight conveyer having paddles radiating therefrom between the stretches of the out-flight sections, a coil located below the said wire partition,connected with a source ofsteam supply, a device substantially as described, for feeding grain into the mixing-compartment above the cut-flight conveyer, a tank having its outlet adjacent to the point of entrance of the grain into the mixing-compartment, a connection between the return-section of the coil and the said tank, whereby water of condensation may be supplied thereto, and a valve-controlled nozzle connected with the receiving-section of the coil and extending below the wire partition above the said coil, being adapted to supply live steam to the contents of the mixingcompartment, as and for the purpose set forth. 6. In a machine for mixing and tempering grain, a box-body the bottom of which is provided with an outlet, the said body being further provided with a partition of wire-cloth dividing it into an upper mixing-compartment and a lower discharge-compartment,the lower discharge-compartm ent being provided with a conveyer and the upper mixing-compartment with a cut-flight conveyer having paddles radiating therefrom between the stretches of the cut-flight sections, a coil located below the said wire partition and connected with a source of steam supply, a device, substantially as described, for feeding grain into the mixing-compartment above the cut-flight conveyer, a tank having its outlet adjacent to the'point of entrance of the grain into the mixing-compartment, a connection between the return-section of the coil and the said tank,whereby water of condensation may be supplied thereto, and a valve-controlled nozzle connected with the receiving-section of the coil and extending below the wire partition above the said coil, being adapted to supply live steam to the contents of the mix- 5 IOO 

